Phylogenetic Relationships of Pogoniinae (Vanilloideae, Orchidaceae): An Herbaceous Example of the Eastern North America-Eastern Asia Phytogeographic Disjunction

rb cL DNA sequences, nuclear ribosomal ITS DNA sequences, morphology, and combined evidence. All these matrices produced patterns that agree on the broader Phylogenetic relationship within the clade. Duckeella is sister to all Pogoniinae, South American species of Cleistes are monophyletic, Pogonia is monophyletic and part of a larger clade of temperate taxa (Isotria, Pogonia, and Cleistes divaricata) from North America and Asia. The structure of the cladograms and the high levels of bootstrap support strongly indicate that the genus Cleistes is paraphyletic. The disjunction between tropical South American and temperate North American taxa as well as the disjunction between Pogonia ophioglossoides in eastern North America with P. minor and P. Japonica in eastern Asia are best explained by speciation following a northward longdistance dispersal and subsequent northwestward migration via Bering land bridges in the Tertiary. This phylogenetic study adds an additional herbaceous example to the growing list of plants that demonstrate this classical biogeographic pattern. Received 5 February 1999/ Accepted in revised form 9 June 1999     

PHYLOGENY OF THE ULVOPHYCEAE (CHLOROPHYTA): CLADISTIC ANALYSIS OF NUCLEAR-ENCODED rRNA SEQUENCE DATA1

Cladistic analysis of nuclear-encoded rRNA sequence data provided us with the basis for some new hypotheses of relationships within the green algal class Ulvophyceae. The orders Ulotrichales and Ulvales are separated from the clade formed by the remaining orders of siphonous and siphonocladous Ulvophyceae (Caulerpales, Siphonocladales /Cladophorales [S/C] complex, and the Dasycladales), by the Chlorophyceae and Pleurastrophyceae. Our results suggest that the Ulvophyceae is not a monophyletic group. Examination of inter- and intra-ordinal relationships within the siphonous and siphonocladous ulvophycean algae revealed that Cladophora, Chaetomorpha, Anadyomene, Microdictyon, Cladophoropsis and Dictyosphaeria form a clade. Thus the hypothesis, based on ultrastructural features, that the Siphonocladales and Cladophorales are closely related is supported. Also, the Caulerpales is a monophyletic group with two lineages; Caulerpa, Halimeda, and Udotea comprise one, and Bryopsis and Codium comprise the other. The Dasycladales (Cymopolia and Batophora) also forms a clade, but this clade is not inferred to be the sister group to the S/C complex as has been proposed. Instead, it is either the sister taxon to the Caulerpales or basal to the Caulerpales and S/C clade The Trentepohliales is also included at the base of the siphonous and siphonocladous ulvophycean clade. The Pleurastrophyceae, which, like the Ulvophyceae, posses a counter-clockwise arrangement of flagellar basal bodies, are more closely related to the Chlorophyceae than to the Ulvophyceae based on rRNA sequences. Thus, the arrangement of basal bodies does not diagnose a monophyletic group. Previously reported hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships of ulvophycean algae were tested. In each case, additional evolutionary steps were required to obtain the proposed relationships. Relationships of ulvophycean algae to other classes of green algae are discussed.     

Phylogenetic Analysis of the Sonneratiaceae and its Relationship to Lythraceae Based on ITS Sequences of nrDNA

Lagerstroemia nested within the Sonneratiaceae. The Sonneratiaceae occurred within the Lythraceae with high bootstrap value support (96%). The two traditional genera constituting Sonneratiaceae were in different well-supported clades. Duabanga (Sonneratiaceae) is sister to the clade of Lagerstroemia (Lythraceae) (82%). The mangrove genus Sonneratia (100%) formed the other monophyletic group. It was located terminally within the Lythraceae clade and comprised two clades: one consisting of S. apetala, S. alba, S. ovata, and S. hainanensis; the other including S. caseolaris and S. paracaseolaris. The results indicated that species previously placed in two different sections (Sect. Sonneratia and Sect. Pseudosonneratia) of Sonneratia occurred within the same clade, and the taxonomic classification was not supported by the molecular analysis of the ITS region sequences. Based on the phylogenetic analyses of the ITS regions, the Sonneratiaceae were shown to be nested within the family Lythraceae. Therefore, the sequence data presented here do not support the recognition of the Sonneratiaceae as a distinct family, but instead support the inclusion of Sonneratiaceae in the Lythraceae proposed by other authors. Received 27 December 1999/ Accepted in revised form 25 June 2000     

Phylogenetic structure in the grass family (Poaceae) as inferred from chloroplast DNA restriction site variation

A cladistic analysis of chloroplast DNA restriction site variation among representatives of all subfamilies of the grass family (Poaceae), using Joinvillea (Joinvilleaceae) as the outgroup, placed most genera into two major clades. The first of these groups corresponds to a broadly circumscribed subfamily Pooideae that includes all sampled representatives of Ampelodesmeae, Aveneae, Brachypodieae, Bromeae, Diarrheneae, Meliceae, Poeae, Stipeae, and Triticeae. The second major clade includes all sampled representatives of four subfamilies (Panicoideae [tribes Andropogoneae and Paniceae], Arundinoideae [Arundineae], Chloridoideae [Eragrostideae], and Centothecoideae [Centotheceae]). Within this group (the “PACC” clade), the Panicoideae are resolved as monophyletic and as the sister group of the clade that comprises the other three subfamilies. Within the latter group, Danthonia (Arundinoideae) and Eragroslis (Chloridoideae) are resolved as a stable monophyletic group that excludes Phragmites (Arundinoideae); this structure is inconsistent with the Arundinoideae being monophyletic as currently circumscribed. The PACC clade is placed within a more inclusive though unstable clade that includes the woody Bambusoideae (Bambuseae) plus several disparate tribes of herbaceous grasses of uncertain affinity that are often recognized as herbaceous Bambusoideae (Brachyelytreae, Nardeae, Olyreae, Oryzeae, and Phareae). Among eight most-parsimonious trees resolved by the analysis, four include a monophyletic Bambusoideae sensu lato (comprising Bambuseae and all five of these herbaceous tribes) as the sister group of the PACC clade; in the other four trees these bambusoid elements are not resolved as monophyletic, and the PACC clade is nested among these tribes. These results are consistent with those of previous analyses that resolve a basal or near-basal branch within the family between Pooideae and all other grasses. However, resolution by the present analysis of the PACC clade, which includes Centothecoideae, Chloridoideae, and Panicoideae, but excludes Bambusoideae, is inconsistent with the results of previous analyses that place Bambusoideae and Panicoideae in a monophyletic group that excludes Centothecoideae and Chloridoideae.     

Phylogenetic Position of the Subgenus Lordiphosa of the Genus Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Inferred from Alcohol Dehydrogenase (Adh) Gene Sequences

We analyzed the phylogenetic relationship between the species of Lordiphosa and other Drosophilidae using alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) gene sequences. The phylogenetic trees consistently show that the four species Drosophila kurokawai, D. collinella, D. stackelbergi, and D. clarofinis, which include three species groups of Lordiphosa, form a monophyletic clade. This clade is placed as a sister group to the willistoni and saltans groups of Sophophora. On the other hand, three species of Lordiphosa, D. tenuicauda, D. pseudotenuicauda, and D. acutissima, all of which belong to the tenuicauda group, are not shown to be related to the major Lordiphosa lineage. In the phylogenetic trees, these species are included into the clade comprised of Drosophila and Hirtodrosophila, although it remains uncertain whether the tenuicauda group is a monophyletic group or not. These results indicate that Lordiphosa is polyphyletic and that most of the members of the subgenus have a close relationship to the neotropical groups of Sophophora. The above conclusion is compatible with the hypothesis of Okada (Mushi [1963] 37:79–100) and Lastovka and Máca (Acta Ent Bohemoslov [1978] 75:404–420) that Lordiphosa is most closely related to Sophophora; in contrast, our results contradict the hypothesis of Grimaldi (Bull Am Mus Nat Hist [1990] 197:1–139) that Lordiphosa is a sister group to the genus Scaptomyza. Received: 12 May 1999 / Accepted: 14 April 2000     

PRASINOPHYTES FORM INDEPENDENT LINEAGES WITHIN THE CHLOROPHYTA: EVIDENCE FROM RIBOSOMAL RNA SEQUENCE COMPARISONS1

Complete nuclear-encoded small-subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences were determined from Nephroselmis olivacea Stein, Pseudoscourfieldia marina (Throndsen) Manton, Scherffelia dubia (Perty) Pascher, and Tetraselmis striata Butcher (Chlorophyta) to investigate the evolutionary position of these scaly green flagellates. Results of neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony phylogenetic analyses demonstrate at least two independent prasinophyte lineages defined by N. olivacea/P. marina and S. dubia/T. striata, which together with the Chlorophyceae, Pleurastrophyceae, and Ulvophyceae form a monophyletic group. Within this assemblage, N. olivacea and P. marina represent an early-diverging lineage that is evolutionarily distinct from the later-diverging S. dubia/T. striata clade. The branch point of the S. dubia/T. striata clade precedes the near-simultaneous radiation of the Chlorophyceae, Ulvophyceae, and Microthamniales. Though interrelationships between these three latter groups of algae are not resolved, the phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that the Prasinophyceae (sensu Moestrup and Throndsen) and the Pleurastrophyceae (sensu Mattox and Stewart) are not monophyletic classes.     

Molecular phylogeny of telenomine egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae s.l.: Telenominae): evolution of host shifts and implications for classification

Parasitoid wasps of the subfamily Telenominae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea, Platygastridae) develop as immatures within the eggs of other insects (Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera and Neuroptera). Rearing records indicate that individual species are restricted to attack hosts within only one of these four main groups. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the group using sequence data from multiple genes (18S, 28S, COI, EF‐1α) to assess the pattern of shifts among host groups and to test the monophyly of and relationships among genera and species‐groups. Telenominae sensu Masner—that is, including only the nominate tribe Telenomini—is not monophyletic. Representatives of the Psix group of genera (Psix Kozlov & Lê and Paratelenomus Dodd) form a monophyletic group that is sister to Gryon Haliday (Scelioninae: Gryonini) and are excluded from the subfamily. The remaining telenomines are monophyletic. The genus Phanuromyia Dodd and the crassiclava group of Telenomus Haliday, both recorded as parasitoids of planthopper eggs (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoroidea), form a monophyletic group that is sister to all other telenomines exclusive of the Psix group. Twenty‐nine species of the crassiclava and aradi groups of Telenomus are transferred to Phanuromyia as new combinations. Basal elements of the remaining species are all in groups reared from the eggs of true bugs (Heteroptera), primarily the stink bugs (Pentatomoidea) and seed bugs (Lygaeoidea). A shift to parasitism of lepidopteran eggs evolved within a single clade, occurring either one or two times. From this clade a small group of species, the Telenomus tabanivorus group, subsequently shifted to parasitism of egg masses of true flies (Tabanidae and Stratiomyiidae). Aholcus Kieffer and Platytelenomus Dodd both belong to the clade of lepidopteran parasitoids and are considered as junior synonyms of Telenomus (new synonymy for Aholcus). The monophyletic status of the two core genera, Telenomus and Trissolcus could not be resolved using these data. The phylogenetic pattern of host shifts suggests comparisons among taxa that may be fruitful in elucidating mechanisms by which parasitoids locate their hosts, the proximate factors that determine the host range, and the changes in these factors that influence host changes.     

Monophyly of the family Desmoscolecidae (Nematoda,Demoscolecida) and Its Phylogenetic position inferred from 18S rDNA sequences

To infer the monophyletic origin and phylogenetic relationships of the order Desmoscolecida, a unique and puzzling group of mainly free-living marine nematodes, we newly determined nearly complete 18S rDNA sequences for six marine desmoscolecid nematodes belonging to four genera (Desmoscolex, Greeffiella, Tricoma and Paratricoma). Based on the present data and those of 72 nematode species previously reported, the first molecular phylogenetic analysis focusing on Desmoscolecida was done by using neighbor joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. All four resultant trees consistently and strongly supported that the family Desmoscolecidae forms a monophyletic group with very high node confidence values. The monophyletic clade of desmocolecid nematodes was placed as a sister group of the clade including some members of Monhysterida and Araeolaimida, Cyartonema elegans (Cyartonematidae) and Terschellingia longicaudata (Linhomoeidae) in all the analyses. However, the present phylogenetic trees do not show any direct attraction between the families Desmoscolecidae and Cyartonematidae. Within the monophyletic clade of the family Desmoscolecidae in all of the present phylogenetic trees, there were consistently observed two distinct sub-groups which correspond to the subfamilies Desmoscolecinae [Greeffiella sp. + Desmoscolex sp.] and Tricominae [Paratricoma sp. + Tricoma sp].     

Phylogenetic Relationships of Maples (Acer L.; Aceraceae) Implied by Nuclear Ribosomal ITS Sequences

Acer. ITS 1 sequences in twenty-eight species of Acer and a species of Dipteronia in the family Aceraceae ranged from 220 to 242 bp and ITS 2 sequences from 215 to 251 bp. The size of the 5.8S coding region was 164 bp for all species examined in the family. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences placed a very robust clade of section Palmata at the base of the tree. Three species of section Parviflora sensu de Jong (1994), A. spicatum, A. distylum and A. nipponicum, did not form a monophyletic clade. Acer spicatum was separated from the robust clade of A. distylum and A. nipponicum. Molecular tree strongly supports the close relationship among section Platanoidea, Glabra series Arguta, and section Macrantha. The close relationship between sections Pentaphylla and Trifoliata was also strongly suggested in ITS tree. Sections Rubra and Hyptiocarpa appeared to be closely allied with each other. The average rate of nucleotide substitution was estimated as (8.0±1.9)×10⁻¹¹ substitutions per site per year for ITS 1 and (9.0±1.6) ×10⁻¹¹ for ITS 2. Received 17 December 1999/ Accepted in revised form 10 March 2000     

Phylogeny of Chaetonotidae and other Paucitubulatina (Gastrotricha: Chaetonotida) and the colonization of aquatic ecosystems

Kånneby, T., Todaro, M. A., Jondelius, U. (2012). Phylogeny of Chaetonotidae and other Paucitubulatina (Gastrotricha: Chaetonotida) and the colonization of aquatic ecosystems. —Zoologica Scripta, 42, 88–105. Chaetonotidae is the largest family within Gastrotricha with almost 400 nominal species represented in both freshwater and marine habitats. The group is probably non‐monophyletic and suffers from a troubled taxonomy. Current classification is to a great extent based on shape and distribution of cuticular structures, characters that are highly variable. We present the most densely sampled molecular study so far where 17 of the 31 genera belonging to Chaetonotida are represented. Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches based on 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and COI mtDNA are used to reconstruct relationships within Chaetonotidae. The use of cuticular structures for supra‐specific classification within the group is evaluated and the question of dispersal between marine and freshwater habitats is addressed. Moreover, the subgeneric classification of Chaetonotus is tested in a phylogenetic context. Our results show high support for a clade containing Dasydytidae nested within Chaetonotidae. Within this clade, only three genera are monophyletic following current classification. Genera containing both marine and freshwater species never form monophyletic clades and group with other species according to habitat. Marine members of Aspidiophorus appear to be the sister group of all other Chaetonotidae and Dasydytidae, indicating a marine origin of the clade. Halichaetonotus and marine Heterolepidoderma form a monophyletic group in a sister group relationship to freshwater species, pointing towards a secondary invasion of marine environments of these taxa. Our study highlights the problems of current classification based on cuticular structures, characters that show homoplasy for deeper relationships.     

Megachiropteran Evolution Studied with 12S rDNA and c-mos DNA Sequences

Recent studies of mitochondrial DNA sequences have indicated the requirement for substantial revisions of the morphological understanding of the phylogeny of Megachiroptera (Pteropodidae). There is disagreement between studies as to what these revisions might be. This investigation was undertaken to expand the number of studied species and to add the first data from a nuclear gene sequence. For 12S ribosomal DNA (aligned length of 405 positions), 75 Megachiroptera (50 species in 20 genera) and two outgroup species were sequenced. For the oncogene c-mos (aligned length of 488 bases), 56 Megachiroptera (42 species in 19 genera) were sequenced and three eutherians from GenBank used as outgroups.The root of the megachiropteran phylogeny cannot be determined with the present data. Nyctimene, the only studied insectivorous genus (Paranyctimene not being included), plus Notopteris, the only long-tailed megachiropteran, form the sister clade to the other genera in combined analyses. Several alternative rootings are not rejected by the data, suggesting a rapid early radiation. Generic distributions indicate that this may have occurred in Melanesia. The results confirm that the subfamily Macroglossinae is not monophyletic with the long tongued phenoptype arising at least twice and support the existence of a major clade including a monophyletic endemic African component and biogeographically neighboring genera such as Rousettus and Eonycteris. The phylogenetic position of one African genus, Eidolon, remains uncertain.A cynopterine section (excluding Nyctimene and Myonycteris) is supported, albeit weakly, as a monophyletic group. Pteropus and the related, possibly polyphyletic genus Pteralopex, are unexpectedly basal compared to previous molecular studies.     

Phylogeny of Carpinus and subfamily Coryloideae (Betulaceae) based on chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal sequence data

Phylogenetic studies were conducted for Carpinus and the subfamily Coryloideae (Betulaceae) using sequences of the chloroplast matK gene, the trnL-trnF region (trnL intron, and trnL [UAA] 3' exon-trnF [GAA] intergenic spacer) and the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer, and the nuclear ribosomal ITS regions. The combined analyses of the three chloroplast regions suggest that Coryloideae is monophyletic; Ostryopsis is sister to the Carpinus - Ostrya clade; Corylus is monophyletic and sister to the Ostrya - Carpinus - Ostryopsis clade; Ostrya is paraphyletic; and within Carpinus, species of sect. Carpinus from eastern Asia form a monophyletic group, whereas the positions of C. betulus from Europe and C. caroliniana from eastern North America are unresolved within the Carpinus clade. The cpDNA tree generated in this study is largely congruent with the previously published ITS results, but the ITS tree places Carpinus sect. Distegocarpus as sister to the Ostrya - Carpinus sect. Carpinus clade. Future work is needed to examine the relationships within the Ostrya - Carpinus clade, evaluate the generic status of Ostrya, and test the phylogenetic position of Ostryopsis.     

MULTIGENE ANALYSES OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC EUGLENOIDS AND NEW FAMILY,PHACACEAE (EUGLENALES)1

Bayesian and maximum‐likelihood (ML) analyses of the combined multigene data (nuclear SSU rDNA, and plastid SSU and LSU rDNA) were conducted to evaluate the phylogeny of photosynthetic euglenoids. The combined data set consisted of 108 strains of photosynthetic euglenoids including a colorless sister taxon. Bayesian and ML analyses recovered trees of almost identical topology. The results indicated that photosynthetic euglenoids were divided into two major clades, the Euglenaceae clade (Euglena, Euglenaria, Trachelomonas, Strombomonas, Monomorphina, Cryptoglena, Colacium) and the Phacaceae clade (Phacus, Lepocinclis, Discoplastis). The Euglenaceae clade was monophyletic with high support and subdivided into four main clades: the Colacium, the Strombomonas and Trachelomonas, the Cryptoglena and Monomorphina, and the Euglena and Euglenaria clades. The genus Colacium was positioned at the base of the Euglenaceae and was well supported as a monophyletic lineage. The loricate genera (Strombomonas and Trachelomonas) were located at the middle of the Euglenaceae clade and formed a robust monophyletic lineage. The genera Cryptoglena and Monomorphina also formed a well‐supported monophyletic clade. Euglena and the recently erected genus Euglenaria emerged as sister groups. However, Euglena proxima branched off at the base of the Euglenaceae. The Phacaceae clade was also a monophyletic group with high support values and subdivided into three clades, the Discoplastis, Phacus, and Lepocinclis clades. The genus Discoplastis branched first, and then Phacus and Lepocinclis emerged as sister groups. These genera shared a common characteristic, numerous small discoid chloroplasts without pyrenoids. These results clearly separated the Phacaceae clade from the Euglenaceae clade. Therefore, we propose to limit the family Euglenaceae to the members of the Euglena clade and erect a new family, the Phacaceae, to house the genera Phacus, Lepocinclis, and Discoplastis.     

92 Phylogenetic analysis of the caulerpales (ulvophyceae,chlorophyta) based on rbcl gene sequences

Our research seeks to clarify the phylogeny of the Caulerpales through analyses of rbcL (large subunit of ribulose 1,5 biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) gene sequences. In a review of caulerpalean taxonomy, Hillis‐Colinvaux (1984) recognized two suborders (Bryopsidineae and Halimedineae) on the basis of anatomical, physiological, and habitat characteristics. The Bryopsidineae (including the genera Bryopsis, Derbesia, and Codium) have cosmopolitan distributions, non‐holocarpic reproduction, and homoplasty, while the Halimedineae (including Caulerpa, Halimeda, and Udotea) have tropical to subtropical distributions, holocarpic reproduction, and heteroplasty. Previous phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA sequence data supported the hypothesis of two monophyletic suborders within the Caulerpales (Zechman et al 1990). However, cladistic analyses of morphological characters (Vroom 1998) suggested that only the Halimedineae was monophyletic. Preliminary maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses suggest the Halimedineae and Bryopsidineae form separate monophyletic groups, with robust support (bootstrap and posterior probabilities) for the former and moderate to poor support for the latter. The families of the Halimedineae (Caulerpaceae, Udoteaceae) form monophyletic sister groups with robust support. The freshwater family Dichotomosiphonaceae was inferred to be basal to the marine Halimedineae clade. The families within the Bryopsidineae (Derbesiaceae, Bryopsidaceae, Codiaceae) each form distinct monophyletic groups. The Codiaceae forms a basal monophyletic group to the sister clade of Bryopsidaceae and Derbeseaceae. This research was partially supported from a NSF grant (DEB‐0128977 to FWZ).     

Biosystematic studies on the genus Heloniopsis (Melanthiaceae) I. Phylogeny inferred from plastid DNA sequences and taxonomic implications

Based on a combined dataset of plastid DNA sequences (atpB‐rbcL, trnG, trnL‐trnL‐trnF, trnK 5' intron and matK) from 60 individuals, we conducted parsimony and likelihood analyses to clarify the phylogenetic relationships among the six species and three varieties that are commonly recognised in Heloniopsis, in addition to the related genera Ypsilandra and Helonias, using Chamaelirium and Chionographis as an outgroup. According to the single most parsimonious tree, which was identical to the maximum‐likelihood tree in topology, Helonias, Ypsilandra and Heloniopsis are all monophyletic with 100% bootstrap support (BS). In Heloniopsis, there are two highly supported clades (BS 94–97%): a clade of Korean species and a clade of Japanese and Taiwanese species. The latter clade comprised the following four subclades (BS 99–100%): 1) H. orientalis var. orientalis, 2) H. orientalis var. breviscapa and var. flavida, 3) H. kawanoi and 4) H. leucantha and H. umbellata. Because subclades 1 and 2 did not form a monophyletic group, and do show clear morphological differences – including nectary position, nectary‐sac structure and leaf margin undulation – they should be distinguished at the species level: H. orientalis for subclade 1 and H. breviscapa for subclade 2. In subclade 2, neither var. breviscapa nor var. flavida was monophyletic; instead, var. breviscapa plus var. flavida (thick‐leaved entity) was monophyletic (BS 62–63%) and var. flavida (thin‐leaved entity) was monophyletic (BS 86–87%). As var. breviscapa and var. flavida (thick‐leaved entity) share basally ± pinkish wide tepals and dark‐coloured thick leaves, in contrast to var. flavida (thin‐leaved entity), which has completely white narrow tepals and light‐coloured thin leaves, the two varieties should may be kept distinct after the merge of var. flavida (thick‐leaved entity) with var. breviscapa.     

Phylogeny and divergence times of some racerunner lizards (Lacertidae: Eremias) inferred from mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene segments

Eremias, or racerunners, is a widespread lacertid genus occurring in China, Mongolia, Korea, Central Asia, Southwest Asia and Southeast Europe. It has been through a series of taxonomic revisions, but the phylogenetic relationships among the species and subgenera remain unclear. In this study, a frequently studied region of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA was used to (i) reassess the phylogenetic relationships of some Eremias species, (ii) test if the viviparous species form a monophyletic group, and (iii) estimate divergence time among lineages using a Bayesian relaxed molecular-clock approach. The resulting phylogeny supports monophyly of Eremias sensu Szczerbak and a clade comprising Eremias, Acanthodactylus and Latastia. An earlier finding demonstrating monophyly of the subgenus Pareremias is corroborated, with Eremias argus being the sister taxon to Eremias brenchleyi. We present the first evidence that viviparous species form a monophyletic group. In addition, Eremias przewalskii is nested within Eremias multiocellata, suggesting that the latter is likely a paraphyletic species or a species complex. Eremias acutirostris and Eremias persica form a clade that is closely related to the subgenus Pareremias. However, the subgenera Aspidorhinus, Scapteira, and Rhabderemias seem not to be monophyletic, respectively. The Bayesian divergence-time estimation suggests that Eremias originated at about 9.9 million years ago (with the 95% confidence interval ranging from 7.6 to 12 Ma), and diversified from Late Miocene to Pleistocene. Specifically, the divergence time of the subgenus Pareremias was dated to about 6.3 million years ago (with the 95% confidence interval ranging from 5.3 to 8.5 Ma), which suggests that the diversification of this subgenus might be correlated with the evolution of an East Asian monsoon climate triggered by the rapid uplift of the Tibetan Plateau approximately 8 Ma.     

Molecular Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Genus Minidiscus (Bacillariophyceae), with Description of Mediolabrus gen. nov

The genus Minidiscus comprises a group of ecologically-important and globally-distributed planktonic diatoms that are characterized by their small cell size, high mantle and processes more or less concentrated in the valve center. Monoclonal strains were established from collections along the Chinese coast. In the phylogenetic analyses inferred from a LSU and SSU dataset, six Minidiscus species clustered into two well-supported clades. The first clade was located within a larger clade formed mainly by Thalassiosira taxa, and the second clade appeared as sister to a clade comprising the genus Skeletonema. Hence, presently known Minidiscus do not form a monophyletic clade, but rather make up a phenotypic grouping. Based on the morphology of the type species, M. trioculatus, as well as morphological characters of all taxa in the clade with M. trioculatus, Minidiscus is characterized by having fultoportula(e) in the valve center or sub-centered close to a single rimoportula, and the cells are usually cylindrical. Mediolabrus gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate species in the second clade. The main difference between Minidiscus and Mediolabrus is the type of process found in the valve (sub-)center, with fultoportula(e) close to a rimoportula in the former, and only a single rimoportula in the latter. According to the above criteria, previously described Minidiscus taxa were re-examined, and either retained in Minidiscus or transferred to Mediolabrus.     

Molecular phylogeny of fungus gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) revisited: position of Manotinae,Metanepsiini, and other enigmatic taxa as inferred from multigene analysis

The phylogeny of selected genera from four subfamilies of fungus gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) – Manotinae, Leiinae, Sciophilinae and Gnoristinae (including Metanepsiini) – is reconstructed based on the combined analysis of five mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COI, COII, cytB) and two nuclear (28S, ITS2) gene markers. Results of the different analyses all support Manotinae as a monophyletic group, with Leiinae as the sister group. Allactoneura DeMeijere is nested in the monophyletic and strongly supported clade of Leiinae. The tribe Metanepsiini is revealed as paraphyletic and the genera Metanepsia Edwards and Chalastonepsia Søli do not appear to be closely related. The genera Docosia Winnertz, Ectrepesthoneura Enderlein, Novakia Strobl and Syntemna Winnertz were placed with a group of genera included traditionally in the Gnoristinae. The monophyly of Dziedzickia Johannsen and Phthinia Winnertz is not supported. The genera of Sciophilinae (excluding Paratinia Mik but including Eudicrana Loew) form a monophyletic group in the Bayesian model.