Characterization of microsatellite loci from Litsea hypophaea (Lauraceae), a tree endemic to Taiwan

? Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed for the endemic tree Litsea hypophaea (Lauraceae) in Taiwan to investigate its genetic diversity and population genetic structure and to investigate species delimitation within Litsea. ? Methods and Results: Fifteen new simple sequence repeat markers were developed from L. hypophaea with a magnetic bead enrichment method. Most loci were also amplified from three closely related species, L. coreana, L. lii, and L. acutivena. The number of alleles and observed and expected heterozygosities across loci varied with a range of 1-25, 0.000-1.000, and 0.000-0.956, respectively. ? Conclusions: The application of these microsatellite markers of L. hypophaea provides a tool for understanding genetic diversity and population differentiation. In addition, interspecific amplification suggests that these markers will also be useful for species identification of related taxa within Litsea in Taiwan.     

Mating system dynamics of Ocotea tenera (Lauraceae), a gynodioecious tropical tree

Progeny arrays of Ocotea tenera (Lauraceae), a gynodioecious tree endemic to Costa Rica, were electrophoretically surveyed for allozyme variation to estimate the outcrossing rate in the overall population and to test for differences in outcrossing rates between hermaphroditic and female trees. Multilocus outcrossing rate estimates across 3 yr indicated O. tenera predominantly outcrosses. However, significant heterogeneity in single-locus outcrossing rates was found among loci. Two loci (Fe1, Fe2) gave high outcrossing estimates, and a third locus (Gdh) gave much lower outcrossing estimates. Heterogeneity in Gdh pollen allele frequencies, consanguineous matings, and selection against homozygous zygote genotypes at the Fe1 and Fe2 loci are factors contributing to the discrepancy in outcrossing rate estimates among loci. There were no differences in the mating systems of hermaphroditic and female trees, which suggests that factors beyond prevention of self-fertilization may have also promoted the evolution of gynodioecy in O. tenera.     

Development of microsatellites in Machilus thunbergii (Lauraceae), a warm-temperate coastal tree species in Japan

? Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed and characterized in a typically coastal, widespread, and dominant tree species of the evergreen broadleaf forests, Machilus thunbergii, for comparison of the genetic diversity and structure of inland populations surrounding the ancient Lake Biwa and coastal populations in Japan. ? Methods and Results: Eighteen polymorphic microsatellites of this species were isolated using an improved technique for isolating codominant compound microsatellite markers. These isolated loci provided compound simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers with polymorphisms of three to 19 alleles per locus, with an average of 10.9. The expected and observed within-population heterozygosities ranged from 0.16 to 0.86 and from 0.13 to 0.72, respectively. ? Conclusions: These markers may be useful tools for further investigation of the population genetic structure and biogeographic history of M. thunbergii in the warm-temperate zone of East Asia.     

Ecological and genetic differentiation in Persea boninensis (Lauraceae) endemic to the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands

Persea boninensis (Lauraceae) is an endemic tree species distributed throughout the Bonin Islands. It grows in a wide range of environments from dry to mesic forests, and has multiple flowering peaks that may correspond to different habitats on Chichijima Island of the Bonin Islands. We predicted that P. boninensis is differentiated into two groups with different habitats on these islands. We examined and compared the flowering phenology, morphology, and genetics of populations of species growing in dry and mesic forests. We also performed preliminary artificial crossing experiments. Based on our results, P. boninensis on the Chichijima Islands can be clearly divided into two genetic groups with different habitats and flowering times. Although the flowering time difference could act as an effective pre‐zygotic isolation mechanism between the two groups, there was still a 1‐month overlap in flowering time. Furthermore, our artificial crossing experiments between the two groups resulted in plants that set seeds. Therefore, there was no evidence of reproductive isolation after fertilization. Differences in flowering time as well as in growth habitat will have to occur to maintain genetic differentiation between the two groups of P. boninensis.     

Microsatellites for Tetracentron sinense (Trochodendraceae), a Tertiary relict endemic to East Asia

? Premise of the study: Tetracentron sinense (Trochodendraceae) is a Tertiary relict endemic to East Asia. Microsatellite markers were developed and characterized to investigate the population genetics of the species. ? Methods and Results: Microsatellite markers were isolated from the genome of T. sinense using the protocol of Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences COntaining repeats (FIASCO). Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers were assessed in 44 samples collected from three wild populations. The number of alleles observed for each locus ranged from two to five. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.0000 to 0.9375 and 0.0000 to 0.7681, respectively. ? Conclusions: The microsatellite markers will be helpful in further studies of the population genetics and phylogeography of T. sinense.     

Six new nematodes of the Heligmonellidae (Trichostrongylina) collected from endemic murines of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Nematodes in Odilia and Paraheligmonelloides (Trichostrongylina: Heligmonellidae) are first recorded from Sulawesi, Indonesia, with 6 new species from the small intestine of endemic murines: Odilia sulawesiensis n. sp. and Odilia moatensis n. sp. from Rattus xanthurus; Odilia mamasaensis n. sp. and Odilia maxomyos n. sp. from Maxomys musschenbroekii; Paraheligmonelloides eropeplios n. sp. from Eropeplus canus; Paraheligmonelloides paruromyos n. sp. from Paruromys dominator. The 6 species are readily distinguished from congeners in the arrangement and number of the synlophe ridges, dilatation of cuticle, shape of the bursa copulatrix and the spicules, and length ratio of the spicules or the ovejector to body. The intestinal heligmonellid fauna of Sulawesi rats shows affinity to both Sundaland and Australian representatives, reflecting dispersal and speciation history of the nematodes and their hosts.     

Bionomics of Anopheles spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) in a malaria endemic region of Sukabumi,West Java,Indonesia

A 15‐month bionomic study of Anopheles species was conducted in two ecologically distinct villages (coastal and upland) of Sukabumi District, West Java, Indonesia from June 2006 to September 2007. Mosquitoes were captured using human‐landing collections at both sites. During the study, a total of 17,100 Anopheles mosquitoes comprising 13 Anopheles species were caught: 9,151 at the coastal site and 7,949 at the upland site. Anopheles barbirostris, Anopheles maculatus, and Anopheles vagus were the predominant species caught at the coastal site, and Anopheles aconitus, Anopheles barbirostris, and An. maculatus predominated in the upland site. Overall, species were exophagic at both sites, but there was variation between species. Anopheles aconitus was endophagic at the coastal site, exophagic at the upland site, collected most often in April 2007 and had a peak landing time between 22:00 and 23:00. Anopheles sundaicus was only collected at the coastal site, exophagic, collected most often in October 2006, and had a peak landing time between 19:00 and 20:00. Potential malaria vector species such An. aconitus, An. maculatus, and An. sundaicus were present throughout the year. None of the 7,770 Anopheles tested using CSP‐ELISA were positive for malaria, although the risk for malaria outbreaks in Sukabumi district remains high.     

Population structure and environmental relationships of the tropical tree Nectandra rudis (Lauraceae), a rare species in western Mexico

Population structure and environmental relationships of the tropical tree Nectandra rudis (Lauraceae), a rare species in western Mexico. The tree N. rudis is a rare species from western Mexico of which community and population features are unknown. We studied a population in an altitudinal gradient, from 550-1,850 m above sea level in the Sierra de Manantlan, Jalisco, Mexico. We established four 60x48 m sample sites at vertical distances of 100 m along this altitudinal gradient. Within each plot, ten 100 m2 circular sub-sampling units were randomly located. At each unit, we recorded diameter at breast height (dbh) and tree height for all woody vegetation > or =2.5 cm dbh. Basal area, tree density, frequency, species richness and importance values per species and plot. We estimated the vertical structure (total tree height) and diameter( as M=5log(10)N) for all N. rudis individuals. A direct ordination through Canonical Correspondence Analysis was done, involving amongst other species, edaphic and environmental data matrices. The record of 44 N. rudis individuals, in seven out the 56 plots sampled, represents the most septentrional record for the species and the first in Western Mexico. Its density and basal area represented 4.5 % and 8.7 % respectively of the total estimated for the community. The greatest importance values were observed at 1 650 m above sea level. The population structure of N. rudis is structured into five diameter categories in an inverse "J" shaped distribution. This is a typical behavior observed to occur in the Lauraceae, which produces big seeds of short viability that germinate when there is high soil moisture content. The species tend to form dense seedling banks although only a reduced number of them are able to survive. Species richness varies from 27 to 39 at plot level; the greatest importance values for the plots on which N. rudis was found, corresponds to Urera verrucosa (Liebm.) V.W. Steinm., N. rudis, Ficus sp., Beilschmiedia manantlanensis Cuevas y Cochrane, amongst others. Canonical Correspondence Analysis suggests that environmental variables such as rooted trees, crown cover, litter depth and soluble magnesium are the more significant explanatory variables for the distribution and abundance of N. rudis.     

Identification and characterization of eight microsatellite loci in Machilus pseudokobu (Lauraceae), an endemic species of the Bonin Islands

Eight microsatellite loci were identified and characterized for the endangered Machilus pseudokobu (Lauraceae), an endemic tree species of the Bonin Islands. The observed number of alleles at each locus ranged from 1 to 20 with an average of 6.2, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 0.83 with an average of 0.47. All eight loci were screened in cross-amplification tests for two other endemic Machilus species that also inhabit the Bonin Islands. All loci were successfully amplified in these species.     

Structural analysis of female and hermaphroditic flowers of a gynodioecious tree, Ocotea tenera (Lauraceae)

The evolution of gynodioecy from hermaphroditism involves modifications of floral structure such that male or female fitness is enhanced in hermaphrodites and females, respectively. We present an analysis of structural specialization of flowers of Ocotea tenera, in order to evaluate gender system evolution in this tropical tree species. Significant morphological and anatomical variation was found between high fruiting and low or nonfruiting trees. Female flowers were significantly smaller than hermaphroditic flowers, produced no viable pollen, and made relatively greater allocation to structures that increase female fitness. Hermaphroditic flowers were significantly larger than female flowers, produced copious quantities of pollen, and made relatively greater allocation to male structures. Analyses indicated that changes in allometries between whole-flower growth and growth of reproductive structures may have occurred, which enhance function of the flower and plant as a male or female. Efficiency of nutrient allocation for reproduction is argued to be a factor driving gender system evolution in Ocotea tenera.     

Phylogeny of the Southeast Asian endemic genus Neocinnamomum H. Liu (Lauraceae)

A phylogenetic analysis of Neocinnamomum H. Liu and related genera was conducted using psbA–trnH, trnK cpDNA regions, and the ITS nrDNA segment. Neocinnamomum was confirmed to be monophyletic, and an evolutionary series of inflorescence development within the genus was recognized. The compound thyrse seen in N. caudatum is reduced to the few- to many-flowered condensed inflorescences with a poorly defined branching system seen in most species and ultimately to the 1-flowered inflorescence seen in N. atjehense. Consensus network analysis (CNA) suggested that long-branch attraction is responsible for the observed close relationship between Neocinnamomum and Cassytha L. in a combined analysis of the complete data. In contrast, the sister relationship of Neocinnamomum and Caryodaphnopsis seen in the Bayesian analyses of the partial combined matrix was supported by CNA and is also supported by morphology and wood and bark anatomy. The close similarity of the compound thyrse of less derived Neocinnamomum species to the thyrsoid inflorescences of some Caryodaphnopsis species is also seen as strong support for their affinity.     

The abundance and diversity of Odonata along an altitudinal gradient in East Java,Indonesia

Odonate diversity in East Java was surveyed, and samplings were made during 2 years in ten sites along an altitudinal gradient. The characteristics of odonate assemblages in East Java were analyzed regarding of the number of individuals, the number of species, and Shannon's diversity index. The differences in abundance, species richness, and diversity between study sites were analyzed by an independent t‐test. There were 3270 individuals of Odonata belong to 30 species, 7 families and 2 suborders identified from all study sites. The abundance, species richness and diversity of Odonata varied between study sites. The greatest abundance of Odonata was found in Malang Coban Talun (MCT) (148.8 ± 9.5), while the lowest was in South Beach Forest (SBF) (14.4 ± 3.6). The highest species richness and diversity was found in Malang Paddy Field (MPF) (richness =14.4 ± 0.8 and H′ = 2.4 ± 0.1), while the lowest was found in South Coastal Area (SCA) (richness =2.8 ± 0.1 and H′ = 0.4 ± 0.1). A significant positive correlation was detected between the elevation and overall odonate abundance (P < 0.05), while there was not significant correlation between that and odonate species richness and diversity.     

Being and place: movement, ancestors, and personhood in East Java, Indonesia

This article is about the transformation of the frontier character of East Java and the impact that such a transformation and the migrations that precipitated it have on forms of personhood in a specific locality. Within this context, it enquires into the capacities of human subjects to create place and the capacity of place to create persons. In particular, it looks at the ways in which memories, kinship, and ritual practices are spatialized and the manner in which such practices, once solidified and coagulated into topographies that map social relations, give rise to particular conceptions of place and personhood as mutually constituting and equally fluid and alterable.  

Résumé

L'auteur traite de la transformation du caractère de frontière de l'est de Java et de l'impact de cette transformation et des migrations qui l'ont suscitée sur la notion de personne dans une localité spécifique. Dans ce contexte, il étudie la capacité des êtres humains à créer des lieux et la capacité des lieux à créer des personnes. Il examine en particulier la manière dont les souvenirs, la parenté et les pratiques rituelles sont spatialisés et dont ces pratiques, une fois agglomérées dans des topographies représentant les relations sociales, suscitent des conceptions particulières du lieu et de la personne comme constitutifs l'un de l'autre et tout aussi mouvants et changeant l'un que l'autre.