NEW CLADID AND FLEXIBLE CRINOIDS FROM THE MISSISSIPPIAN (TOURNAISIAN, IVORIAN) OF ENGLAND AND WALES

Abstract:  The modern study of fossil crinoids began with J. S. Miller who, in 1821, described specimens from southern England, nearby Wales and other regions, and named several common Early Carboniferous genera. Later, in 1950–60, James Wright monographed all known Early Carboniferous crinoids from the British Isles. In spite of such previous scrutiny, we recognize here two new genera among species already described: Glamorganocrinus gen. nov. (type species: Ophiurocrinus gowerensis Wright, 1960) from South Wales and Mendipocrinus gen. nov. (type species: Poteriocrinus latifrons Austin and Austin, 1847) from southern England. These new genera increase the number of advanced cladid genera in the Ivorian Substage of the Tournaisian in western Europe to 18, and the total number of crinoid genera to 36. A review of species assigned to Mespilocrinus has led to the recognition of M. granulifer De Koninck and LeHon, 1854 as a nomen dubium. A new species of Mespilocrinus , M. wrighti sp. nov., is described from the Ivorian of South Wales; this is the most highly derived species of the genus, as based on a phylogenetic analysis including ten species and 13 characters, with Pycnosaccus as the outgroup. A single, well-ordered tree resulted from this analysis. Interpretation of this tree suggests that the centre of evolution for Mespilocrinus was North America, where three species appeared during the Kinderhookian (early Tournaisian), rapidly achieving morphological disparity within the genus. This radiation event was part of the overall explosive radiation of crinoids following the Late Devonian mass extinction event when crinoid diversity was at a global minimum during the Frasnian. Recovery began during the Famennian, followed by an explosive radiation in the Tournaisian.     

Eudiaptomus anatolicus n.sp. (Copepoda: Calanoida) from Turkey

Eudiaptomus anatolicus n.sp. displays similarity to E. transylvanicus (Daday, 1890) by possessing an outer marginal spine located proximally on the second exopodite segment of the male right P₅, but it differs from this closest species in the presence of a chitinous projection on the second exopodite segment of the male right P₅, and in the typical shape of the female's thoracic wings. E. transylvanicus (Daday, 1890) has three chitinous processes located on the basipodite segment of the male right P₅, whereas Eudiaptomus anatolicus n.sp. has only one small process on this part. This new species is living in lake Poyraz, which is small and shallow. Some cladoceran species, namely, Pleuroxus truncatus (O.F. Müller, 1785), Pleuroxus laevis (Sars, 1862), Pleuroxus trigonellus (O.F. Müller, 1785), Simocephalus exspinosus (Koch, 1841), Eurycercus lamellatus (O.F. Müller, 1785), Alonella excisa (Fischer, 1854), Lathonura rectirostris (O.F. Müller, 1785), Pseudochydorus globosus (Baird, 1843) and two cyclopoid copepods, Megacyclops viridis (Jurine, 1820) and Eucyclops serrulatus (Fischer, 1851) share the same habitat. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification of two subterranean termite species (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) using cellulase genes

To identify subterranean termite species, we designed a pair of common primers that amplified 381-bp fragments from cDNAs encoding the endo-beta-1,4-glucanases (EGases) of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe). cDNAs from C. formosanus and R. speratus, and genomic DNA from R. speratus, were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by using this primer pair and then cloned and sequenced. Sequences amplified from C.formosanus cDNA displayed 97-99% identity to cDNA encoding the EGase of C. formosanus (CfEG), and 92-94% identity to cDNA encoding the EGase of R. speratus (RsEG). By contrast, cDNA from R. speratus displayed 99-100% identity to RsEG cDNA and 93-94% identity to CfEG cDNA. CfEG and RsEG cDNAs can therefore be used as markers for the identification of these termite species. This is the first report of the successful identification of termite species by using cDNA and genomic DNA sequences of termite origin.     

The effect of invertebrate diets on lipids, fatty acid composition and physiological condition of pike larvae (Esox lucius)

The present study tests two invertebrate diets for pike larvae reared in floating cages. One diet contained mainly copepods and cladocerans such as Eucyclops serrulatus and Bosmina longirostris , while the other diet contained Eucyclops serrulatus together with a small proportion of large Chydoridae and chironomid larvae. During the first days of the experiment, the amount of food distributed to the larvae was insufficient (9–17.1 prey per larva and per day) and led to an increase in the mortality. Triacylglycerol contents of fry were low and dietary fatty acids were either catabolised or, concerning PUFA such as 22:6(n-3), incorporated into phospholipids. From day 13 to the end of the study (day 22), the most abundant diets distributed were accompanied by an increase in triacylglycerol PUFA and in triacylglycerol contents of larvae. During the same period weight and length growth were better for larvae reared on the copepod plus Chydoridae and chironomid diet, than for larvae reared on the copepod and Bosmina diet. The use of a lipid condition index based on the triacylglycerol/sterol ratio suggested that Chydoridae and chironomids positively influenced the growth and nutritional condition of larvae. The effects of prey type in terms of PUFA composition on pike larvae are discussed.     

Description of Eucyclops tziscao sp. n., E. angeli sp. n., and a new record of E. festivus Lindberg, 1955 (Cyclopoida,Cyclopidae, Eucyclopinae) in Chiapas,Mexico

Two new species of the freshwater cyclopoid genera Eucyclops are described, Eucyclops tziscao sp. n. and E. angeli sp. n. Both species belong to the serrulatus-group defined by morphological features such as: the presence of distal spinules or hair-like setae (groups N1 and N2) on frontal surface of antennal basis; the fourth leg coxa with a strong inner spine that bears dense setules on inner side, yet proximally naked (large gap) on outer side; and a 12-segmented antennule with smooth hyaline membrane on the three distalmost segments. Eucyclops tziscao sp. n. is morphologically similar to E. bondi and E. conrowae but differs from these species in having a unique combination of characters, including a caudal ramus 4.05±0.25 times as long as wide, lateral seta of Enp3P4 modified as a strong, sclerotized blunt seta, coxal spine of fourth leg with inner spinule-like setules distally, and sixth leg of males bearing a strong and long inner spine 2.3 times longer than median seta. Eucyclops angeli sp. n. can be distinguished by an unique combination of morphological features: the short caudal ramus; the long spine on the sixth antennular segment of A1; the presence of one additional group of spinules (N12’) on the caudal surface of A2; the presence of long setae in females, or short spinules in males on the lateral margin of fourth prosomite; the strong ornamentation of the intercoxal sclerite of P4, specially group I modified as long denticles; the distal modified setae of Exp3P3 and Exp3P4 in females and males; and the short lateral seta of P5. Finally, we report on a new record of E. festivus in México, and add data on morphology of the species.     

DNA barcoding for identification of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in India

About 50 species of sand flies have been reported to be prevalent in India. We explored the utility of the DNA barcode approach towards species identification of these medically important insects. A total of 62 specimens belonging to seven morphologically identified species of two genera, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia, collected from Puducherry Union Territory, Maharashtra and Rajasthan states of India were subjected to the analysis. Neighbor‐joining (NJ) analysis of DNA barcode sequences identified the individuals of seven morphological species into eight distinct species, as presented in the designed NJ tree. This methodology delineated morphologically identified species, S. bailyi, into two genetically isolated groups. Also, this study characterizes DNA barcodes of P. argentipes and P. papatasi, the vector species of leishmaniasis in India, for the first time.     

A new culture system for in situ observation of the growth and development of Eucyclops serrulatus (Copepoda: Cyclopoida)

A practical and convenient method of rearing Eucyclops serrulatus in a microculture environment is described. A complete life cycle of E. serrulatus was maintained in a narrow space on a microscope slide glass on which a cover glass of 22 x 40 mm in size was mounted at a height of 0.8 mm. The culture medium was constituted by bottled mineral water boiled with grains of Glycine max (soybean). Chilomonas paramecium, a free-living protozoan organism, was provided as live food. Growth of nauplii hatched from eggs to the first stage of copepodite took an average of 7.7 days, and the growth of copepodite 1 to the egg-bearing adult female took an average of 20.1 days in the microculture cell with an average life time of 44.7 days. Continuous passage of copepods was successfully maintained as long as sufficient medium and food were provided. The microculture method enables an in situ microscopic observation on the growth and developmental process of helminth larvae experimentally infected to copepods as well as of copepod itself. Furthermore, it does not require anesthetization and, therefore, minimize the amount of stress exposed to copepods during the handling process.     

中国五节毛蚜亚科分类学研究(同翅目:蚜科)

中国五节毛蚜亚科Atheroidinae已知4属,即：五节毛蚜属Atheroides Haliday,小毛蚜属Chaetosiphella Hille Ris Lambers新纪录,赖毛蚜属Laingia Theobald,伪毛蚜属Sipha Passerini;共8种,即：禾草五节毛蚜Atheroides hirtellus Haliday,锯形五节毛蚜A.serrulatus Haliday新纪录,针茅小毛蚜Chaetosiphella stipae hille Ris Lambers新纪录,沙赖毛蚜Laingia psammae Theobald,剪草伪毛蚜Sipha arenarii Mordviko新纪录,丽伪毛蚜S.elegans del Guercio,神茅伪毛蚜s.glyceriae(Kaltenbach)和玉米伪毛蚜S.maydis Passerini。提供了分属、分种检索表,各属提供了鉴别特征,所有分类单元具有文献引证、寄主植物、地理分布和检视标本的记录。每个新纪录种有简要的形态记述和特征图。所有研究标本保存在中国科学院动物研究所动物标本馆。     

Evidence for the copepods Acanthocyclops robustus and Mesocyclops edax as competent intermediate hosts for Coelomomyces punctatus during an epizootic in a larval population of the mosquito Anopheles quadrimaculatus.

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted during an epizootic of Coelomomyces punctatus (Chytridiomycetes: Blastocladiales) in a population of the mosquito Anopheles quadrimaculatus in a North Carolina farm pond to examine the interactions of several potential copepod hosts with the mosquito and fungus. The diel vertical migratory behavior of the copepod species Acanthocyclops robustus, Eucyclops serrulatus, Macrocyclops albidus, and Mesocyclops edax were monitored in relation to infection rates in sentinel mosquito larvae. Mosquito infection occurred primarily around dusk, the same period during which A. robustus and E. serrulatus were most abundant near the surface of the pond. However, exposure of A. robustus, E. serrulatus, M. albidus, M. edax, Microcyclops varicans, and Paracyclops poppei to fungal meiospores in the laboratory showed that only A. robustus and M. edax were competent intermediate hosts for C. punctatus. Laboratory studies of the diel periodicity of gametangial dehiscence in A. robustus and M. edax infected with C. punctatus revealed that gamete release and zygote formation also occurred around dusk. The combined results of the laboratory and field studies on copepod abundance, susceptibility to infection, and periodicity of gametangial dehiscence suggest that A. robustus was the principal intermediate host for C. punctatus during the epizootic, though it is probable that M. edax also contributed importantly to the overall rate of larval infection.     

Laboratory maintenance of Eucyclops serrulatus (Copepoda: Cyclopoida).

A simple method for culturing a freshwater copepod Eucyclops serrulatus is described. A flagellate Chilomonas paramecium serves as the food organism. Starting from a single, egg-bearing female collected in a pond, the copepod proliferated for at least 10 generations apparently with no adverse changes. The stock culture has been maintained with minimal effort for at least 19 months. The method is expected to make the copepod useful in the laboratory as an intermediate host of various parasitic helminths.     

PHYLOGENETIC UTILITY OF rbc S SEQUENCES: AN EXAMPLE FROM ANTITHAMNION AND RELATED GENERA (CERAMIACEAE, RHODOPHYTA)

We report the potential phylogenetic utility of the small RUBISCO subunit ( rbc  S) sequences from a sampling of Antithamnion and related genera in ceramiacean algae. The size of rbc  S was 417 bp for all taxa examined. Analyses of the DNA sequence data indicated that pairwise divergences of rbc  S sequences were 3.3%–9.8% among species of Antithamnion , and ranged from 13.6% to 18.0% between Antithamnion and related genera. Phylogenetic analyses fully resolved relationships at the intrageneric level with statistical significance supported by high bootstrap values. Two subgenera of Antithamnion , Pteroton and Antithamnion , were clearly distinguished in the molecular tree. In the clade of subgenus Pteroton , A. aglandum was allied with A. callocladum and separated from A. nipponicum. In the pairwise distance comparison of sequence variation, Ceramium showed the greatest genetic distances among genera examined in the study. All phylogenetic trees generated by the maximum parsimony, neighbor joining, and maximum likelihood were completely congruent in topology with high confidence.     

Phylogenetic analysis based on the morphology of viviparous freshwater clams of the family Sphaeriidae (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Veneroida)

The cosmopolitan viviparous bivalves of the family Sphaeriidae (fingernail clams) comprise not only some of the smallest freshwater molluscs, but also an abundant and ecologically important group that often dominates benthic communities of springs, ponds and swamps. The origin from marine ancestors and their subsequent evolution in limnic environments, in particular the development of distinct reproductive modes including complex parental care repertoires, are largely unresolved. This paper presents the results of a phylogenetic analysis of 69 morphological characters from 57 taxa (54 representing sphaeriids throughout the distribution area plus three outgroups). The heuristic search resulted in 753 most-parsimonious trees of length 154 [consistency index (CI) = 0.682, retention index (RI) = 0.906, rescaled consistency index (RC) = 0.618]. Only Pisidium of the three traditionally regarded constituent genera is supported as a monophyletic group; Sphaerium and Musculium in their traditional deliminations are found to be paraphyletic. Instead, the analysis supports a clade comprising all species of Musculium plus Pisidium as suggested by previous morphology-based classifications. However, the shortest tree alternatively supporting a Sphaerium  +  Musculium clade suggested by molecular data is only one step longer. Some clades that correspond to the subgeneric divisions of the three traditionally recognized sphaeriid genera are supported. Exclusion is suggested of the taxon Euperidae ( Eupera and Byssodonta , both with ovo-viviparous species) from the true Sphaeriidae that then comprises all species with eu-viviparous reproductive mode, i.e. brooding and nourishing their embryos in specialized brood pouches in the gills. The implications for the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of Sphaeriidae and the availability of existing taxonomic names for the systematization suggested by the present analysis are discussed.     

七种蝽mtDNA-16S rRNA基因序列多态性的研究(半翅目:蝽科)

测定蝽亚科2族4属7个种(宽碧蝽,辉蝽,凹肩辉蝽,角肩真蝽,褐真蝽,斑真蝽,全蝽)9个个体线粒体DNA(mtDNA)的16SrRNA基因片段,分析了其遗传多态性。通过测定该基因片段的序列发现,不同种群存在丰富的DNA序列多态性,同一种的不同个体差异较小,9个个体具有9种基因型。在扩增的长为400bp的基因片段中,通过排序,有338个碱基可用于这9个个体的比较。在这一基因片段中,共检测到122个多态性核苷酸位点(约36．1％)。NJ法构建的分子系统树表明碧蝽属归于短中片族,全蝽属的分化较其它属要早。     

Cave adaptation in the spider genus Anthrobia (Araneae, Linyphiidae, Erigoninae)

The genus Anthrobia Tellkampf, 1844 is revised and expanded to include two epigean species, Anthrobia acuminata ( Emerton, 1913 ) comb. nov., and A. whiteleyae sp. nov., and two troglobites, the type species A. monmouthia Tellkampf, 1844 , and A. coylei sp. nov. The female of A. acuminata is described for the first time. All four Anthrobia species were added to a phylogenetic analysis of erigonine genera. Analysis of this matrix results in a single most parsimonious tree (length = 915, CI = 0.23, RI = 0.58; uninformative characters excluded: length = 911, CI = 0.23), which places Anthrobia sister to Diplocentria Hull, 1911. Troglobitic Anthrobia and epigean Anthrobia are both monophyletic. In comparison to the epigean species, troglobitic Anthrobia exhibit the following putative adaptations to cave life: loss of eyes, elongation of the legs, and reduction of the tracheal system. The reliability of phylogenetic results indicating monophyly of cave Anthrobia are discussed in light of the fact that potentially cave adaptive synapomorphies support this relationship.     

A new phylogenetic classification for the gymnophthalmid genera Cercosaura , Pantodactylus and Prionodactylus (Reptilia: Squamata)

Because of the poor state of knowledge of many of the gymnophthalmid genera, systematic revision is necessary to render the classification consistent with evolutionary history. To that end, I conducted a review of the species of three genera of the Cercosaurinae which appear to form a monophyletic group: Cercosaura , Pantodactylus , and Prionodactylus . Phylogenetic analysis of 61 morphological characters was conducted after specimens of all species were examined to evaluate the composition of each taxon. The phylogenetic reconstruction suggested that the genus Prionodactylus was paraphyletic. A new phylogenetic classification is proposed that synonymizes Pantodactylus and Prionodactylus with Cercosaura. Cercosaura is redefined to include 11 species and seven subspecies. A key is provided to distinguish among species.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 137 , 101−115.     

Hybrid origin of the imperial pheasant Lophura imperialis (Delacour and Jabouille, 1924) demonstrated by morphology, hybrid experiments, and DNA analyses

The imperial pheasant Lophura imperialis was described in 1924 from a captive pair that was obtained in Vietnam, and that became the sole founders of a captive line in France. Always considered a highly endangered and mysterious species, and despite concerted searches, L. imperialis was not found again in the wild until one was trapped in 1990, and the captive population gradually died out. Its status as a distinct species was unquestioned until the late 1990s when the possibility of a hybrid origin was raised. To elucidate the taxonomic status of L. imperialis , we studied all the existing museum specimens, carried out captive hybridization experiments, and analysed mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites. All these lines of evidence demonstrate congruently and conclusively that L. imperialis is an occasional hybrid between silver pheasant L. nycthemera and Edwards's pheasant L. edwardsi, with the 1990 bird probably being a hybrid between L. nycthemera and Vietnamese pheasant L. hatinhensis. Thus L. imperialis has no taxonomic standing and should be removed from lists of species of conservation concern. However, hybridization with L. nycthemera may pose a further threat to the survival in the wild of the endangered L. edwardsi and L. hatinhensis .  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 80 , 573–600.     

Review of the South American genus Eurotettix Bruner (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Melanoplinae)

Abstract.  The South American grasshopper genus Eurotettix (Melanoplinae, Dichroplini) from north-eastern Argentina, southern Brazil and eastern Paraguay is revised. Cladistic analysis of the morphological and karyotypic characters indicates that the monophyly of Eurotettix is supported only weakly. Thus, Eurotettix is divided into two genera, and Dichromatos gen.n. is described for Eurotettix corupa Carbonell & Mesa, E. lilloanus Liebermann (type species), E. montanus Carbonell & Mesa and E. schrottkyi Rehn. Twelve species are recognized for Eurotettix with six described as new: E. concavus sp.n. , E. latus sp.n. , E. procerus sp.n. , E. brevicerci sp.n. , E. similraphael sp.n. and E. bugresensis sp.n. Keys to the species of the genera and a review of defining morphological characters are provided.     

Origins, establishment and evolution of new polyploid species: Senecio cambrensis and S. eboracensis in the British Isles

Two new polyploid species of Senecio have originated in the British Isles in recent times following hybridization between native S. vulgaris (2 n  = 40) and introduced S. squalidus (2 n  = 20). One of these is the allohexaploid S. cambrensis (2 n  = 60), the other is the recombinant tetraploid S. eboracensis (2 n  = 40). We review what is known about when and how each species originated, and their reproductive isolation from parents due to high selfing rates. We also review evidence that suggests S. cambrensis may have undergone rapid genome evolution since its origin, and comment on the risks of extinction to each species due to chance factors operating during the early establishment phase. The discovery of both species soon after their origin provides an unparalleled opportunity to examine two different but related forms of speciation following hybridization between the same parent species. Further detailed study of the ecology and genomics of S. cambrensis and S. eboracensis will help improve our understanding of the process of polyploid speciation in plants.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 82 , 467–474.